Compare towns
Ellsworth vs Springfield vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ellsworth has the most renters (33.3% rent).
Springfield has the most people working from home (16.7%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ellsworth | Springfield | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,657Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
51.4±8.8 32% above U.S. |
52.4±5.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Surry and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,375±$18k 4% below U.S. |
$100,893±$19kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$74,508±$12kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$296,300±$36k 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,017±$195 28% below U.S. |
$1,096±$217Highest 22% below U.S. |
$969±$129Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Springfield and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,262 5% above U.S. |
$5,946Highest 91% above U.S. |
$1,903Lowest 39% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±59.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Surry and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Ellsworth Public Schools | — | Surry Public Schools |
| High school in town | Ellsworth High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.